This is not a review but a fact. Review on Suzuki Heat

NEVER BUY SUZUKI BIKES IN INDIA

19-04-07, Thursday- Day of purchase – Airport road SUZUKI- Bangalore.

• Wobbling at speeds above 40 KMPH(‘Heat’ Rocks—literally) Front tyre changed twice on the same day of purchase. Normal Heat does not have Zapper tyres but this vehicle had come with factory fitted zapper(factory mistake- service centre).

  
  




• The rim is suspected to be faulty. Front axle changed – No good.

  
  




• After four consecutive tyre changes(various combinations tried) Suzuki concludes Zapper tyres can never be on a Heat vehicle

  
  




• Adjusted the head assembly – since the vehicle drags to one side.

  
  

21-04-07 – Saturday - Tuesday

The vehicle was called back for a complete checking and make over. I am told the issue is rectified; off the records- that parts from another Heat is ripped over which includes the cone assembly. Checked with all combinations of different tyres and Zapper(MRF) is fitted back.

Test ride with the technician who worked on it, the vehicle still ‘Rocks’ but unlike last time its ‘Soft Rock’ this time around. The manager took another ride – confirms the issue and says that he is going to take the issue up with MRF cause it’s a tyre problem.

• The head assembly was so tight he had to loosen it a couple of times and the vehicle is still very hard to control while moving in highly packed traffic.

I should say that they had managed to mark ‘wobbling – satisfactory’ by multiple replacements of multiple parts. Then issues with engine started showing up.

• The vehicle vibrates like a drilling machine at speeds above 60 KMPH and any speeds below will make one feel the grinding the vehicle undergoes. All over the ride is an annoying and purely grinding experience.

  
  




• Its doubted that there are knocking sounds.

  
  




• When the acceleration is sudden, power delivery is sluggish.

  
  




• The suspensions are rock solid – They say that its one of the best that was shipped, in the entire history of Suzuki bikes. No adjustments could be done to make it smooth.

  
  




• The break lights works; only for front brakes – the back is never connected(on this one atleast).

  
  




• Misfiring – detected, but tuning and burning of liters of petrol does not do any good, service managers conclusion – the vehicle is designed so -to deliver max performance.

  
  




• There is a heavy engine rattling sound for which sprocket chain timing adjuster was recalibrated(timing change made).

  
  




• The service people are not in a position to identify whether it is rattling or engine knocking so adjusting valve clearance was also done. I am told that one of the spark plugs were loose!

  
  

I am advised to use petrol from pure source! BP, HP, IO. is what I ever used .this issue must then be taken up with Suzuki and petrol providers in India.

• The front wheel does not rotate freely – they say ‘thanks to the alloy wheels’ those are not supposed to do a free rotation.

  
  




• There is a good amount of squealing sound from the front wheel after the vehicle does a couple of kilometers. There is no heat generated on the wheel to suspect the breaks being jammed or so. Again service is clueless!

  
  




• I had asked for replacement of the vehicle after 150 Kilometers to which the reply was ‘Two Year Warranty’. I am more than sure that any incident happens later on, shall be the classic ‘Wear and Tear of mechanical parts’ or ‘User Abuse’ and Suzuki will have nothing to do what so ever.

  
  

Everything put together ‘Power free’- Suzuki’s first bike in 1952 would be the only bike that could fit in the slot for Heat -125 cc.

06-05-07

After at least 15 visits to the service centre, today I am more than willing to sell the vehicle at 500 kilometers, of which nearly 150 kilometers was done by the service people learning and studying the issue.

18-05-07

I am told that all issues are going to vanish into thin air as soon as the bike does the first 1000 Km or as the first service is over. I had kept all my patience for this day to pass and I am going to leave the bike at the service centre if there is no improvement to the situation. I am attaching this to Suzuki sites all over so that spending 40K IRS(US$1000) and making a fool out of me does not go unnoticed at least by Suzuki, and here because mouthshut was one of those first places that I looked for ratings

This is not a review but a fact! the ratings I had given reflects my thoughts before the day of purchase . the ratings today . well I donot know how to give something below zero on this scale!

MY ONLY WORD FOR A PROSPECTIVE BUYER IS >>RIDE THE BIKE FOR A MONTH BEFORE YOU PAY UPDATE 1: 04-06-07

Top notch techs from suzuki(direct) had responded and reassured a resolution on 05-06-07(good date BTW:). Shall update as soon as I get an update if not, a resolution(which seems a far cry).